Self-advancing winding reel



May 10, 1949. I R. HELLBACH 2,469,767

SELF ADVANCIRG WINDING REEL Filed April 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. -R. HELLBACH m4 w Ma/ May 10, 1949. HELLBACH 2,469,767

SELF-ADVANCING wimime REEL Filed April 14, 1947 2 Sheets-Shet 2 INVENTOR, R. HELLBACH Patented Me, 10, 1949 Rudolph Hellbach, Philadelphia, Pa.,

assignor to the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture Application April 14,1947, Serial No. 741,231

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 G. 75 7) 2 Claims.

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April 30, 1928, and the invention herein described, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment to 'me of any royalty thereon.

This application is a continuation-in-part of 684,910, filed July 19, 1946.

This invention relates to a self-advancing winding reel for use in the processing of artificial threads, filaments, or the like. It is employed to treat the filaments in a chemical solution or in a current of gas to impart strength and firm texture, for example.

The threads or filaments to be treated are spread or wound on the outside surface of the reel, or of several reels in series, while being kept separate from each other on the reel, or reels. As the reels rotate they may dip into a chemical solution.

The treating solution may be caused to fall in a stream onto the reel. The filaments on the reel may be subjected to the action of a current of gas, or they may be washed and dried on the reel.

The reel may be tapered. The threads, or filaments, wouldthen be started at the smaller end, and as they advance to the larger end, they would be gradually stretched. From experience, it can be shown that the threads, filaments or the like, have superior properties, such as greater strength, when so treated.

In operation the threadlike material is brought to the starting point on the reel. The rotating reel then carries the material around on its outer surface in separated turns, while advancing the threadlike material until the opposite end. is reached. This is accomplished by sliding or moving bars, located in slots or between the fixed bars forming the main body of the reel. The bars are moved lengthwise of the reel by a cam. A pair of cams, each of which is located near an end of the reel, move the sliding bars radially inwardly and outwardly at the proper stage of each revolution. Spiral springs keep the sliding or movable bars in continuous contact with the cams to secure the proper sequence of motions.

In my co-pendingapplication for patent, Serial my copending application for patent, Serial No. i

which is supported at one end only and maybe incorporated directly into a spinning or extruding assembly which will be referred to as panel vmounting. Under certain conditions it may be necessary to keep the material being treated in continuous contact with the chemical treatment for a considerable length of time. This would require a large reel which could be best mounted rotatably in more than one bearing. In panel mounting the reel is supported at one end only. This permits it to be incorporated into an assembly by means of which consecutive treatments may be applied by carrying the treated filament from one reel to another until the process is completed.

The reel shown in attached drawings consists of an 8-sided cylindrical prism, but Ldo not wish to limit myself to any particular number of sides or facesfas these can vary with the size of reel desired for necessary treatment of threadlike filaments.

The shape of the reel may be cylindrical, or conical.

The faces or sides of the cylindrical prism comprising the main body of'the reel, and which have no lateral or radial movement, need not have a solid surface. These faces or sides may be provided with grooves or slots, and with openings of any desired shape or size. This may be desirable to obtain a more thorough treatment of the threadlike filament under certain conditions.

The accompanying drawing illustrates one embodiment of the reel.

Figure 1 is an end view.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal view, partly in section.

Figure 3 is a modified form of the sliding bar.

Figure 4 is another form of the sliding bar.

In Figure 2 the stationary parts, that is, the parts which are to'be fixedly attached to the panel, constitute panel plate 10, yoke 2 fastened to plate ill by screws l3, stationary shaft I rigidly attached to and supported by the yoke at the left end only, annular cam I attached to panel plate ill by means of screws l4, and cam disc 8 rigidly attached on the right end of shaft I.

' The moving parts in Figures 1 and 2 are the cylindrical sleeve 3 rotatably mounted on stationary shaft I by means of annular bearings at 4 and I6. An additional support bearing is provided by the yoke, at IT. Sprocket gear 5 is fixedly mounted upon and turns sleeve 3. The sprocket is actuated by any convenient source of power. The rotating reel comprises fixed bars 6 having outer faces 6', forming the thread supporting surface of the reel, and radially inwardly projecting portions l8 which provide axially and longitudinally extending slots H. In each slot II is carried a sliding bar l9. Each sliding bar is supported at an end by fixed cam plate I and at the other end by fixed cam 8. Springs 9, attached at one end to the bars and at the other to the sleeve 3, keep the bars in contact with the cam surfaces. Rollers are provided at I2 to reduce friction. The fixed bars 6 and their projecting portions l8 are rigidly attached toand supported by plate 20. The plate 20 is mounted on, and rotated by sleeve 3, being attached thereto by screws 2|.

Cam .1 is provided with an annular cam surface l" which moves the bars longitudinally in the slots. The cam I is also provided with a cam surface 1' which is preferably identical with the cam surface 8 of disc 8. Consequently, as the reel rotates, the bars H are moved parallel to the axis of the reel and also radially outwardly or inwardly in a predetermined sequence.

In operation, the threadlike filament is brought to a starting point on the reel, for example, at the top in the end view (Fig. l)

In the following description, the filament is wound in the direction indicated by the arrow. Obviously, an opposite winding may be obtained by i e-arrangement of the cams l and 8.

Referring to Figure l, at point a the sliding bar is at the top, in starting position, and rotates with the reel. At point b the bar has been moved lengthwise by cam l toward cam 8, and it also has been moved radially toward the axis of the reel by the combined action of cams l and 8, and the spiral spring. The same motion is continued as the reel rotates through point 0. At point 11 the outer f ace of the movable bar is flush with the surface of the main body of the reel, which now supports and carries the threadlike filaments. At this point d, the bar is stationary insofar as lengthwise motion is concerned, but continues to recede into the slot.

t point e, the bar has receded into the slot and its outer face is below the surface of the main body of the reel and thus out of contact with the threadlike filament. While in this position the bar is moved axially or lengthwise toward cam 'l by the combined action of the spring and the cam l. The bar having reached its lowest position continues to move in the same lengthwise direction, but not radially, and this motion continues up to point 1. At point 1 the bar still continues to move lengthwise toward cam l but at the same time it is moved radially, away from the axis of the reel, by the combined action of cams l and 3 and spring 9. At point g the bar has moved to its lengthwise starting position, and at this point the lengthwise motion ceases. The bar continues, however, to move radially away from the axis of the reel, and its outer face is now flush with the surface of the main body of the reel and in contact with the filaments. At point h the bar is still stationary as far as the length wise motion is concerned, and continues its radial motion away from the axis of the reel and this motion continues until the bar assumes the starting position a, thus completing the operation cycle. The same sequence of movements is repeated in each revolution of the reel. The sequence of movements and their relative duration may be altered to adapt the reel for use in any particular process.

In the foregoing description the sequence of movements imparted to the bars, which take place 4 at least once for each revolution of the drum. is as follows: w

1. Forward lengthwise (toward cam 8) and simultaneously inward radially.

2. Inward radially only.

3. Backward-lengthwise (toward cam I) only.

4. Backward lengthwise and simultaneously outward radially.

This sequence of movements will advance the thread in one direction on the reel. By a proper arrangement and design of the cams it is possible to advance the thread in the opposite direction.

When a larger reel is used the design of the cams can be modified in such a manner as to impart to the bars the sequence of movements shown in my co-pending application Serial 684,- 910, wherein the bars do not move lengthwise while they are being moved radially and do not move radially while they are being moved lengthwise. The designing of the cam surfaces to accomplish this is obvious. I

The double cam ll may be replaced by two separate cams one providing cam surface I, and the other cam surface 1''.

To assist in advancing the thread on the reel, the outer edges or working faces of the sliding bars 89 may be provided with a number of equidistant, longitudinally aligned and radially directed pins 22, as taught in my application Serial No. 684,910 and shown in Figure 3. Or, the edges of the bars may be roughened to aid in advancing the thread. Longitudinally and equidistantly spaced rooves 23 may be cut in the working faces of bars l9 for the same purpose, as shown in Figure 4. However, by making the working faces of sufilcient width, a smooth surface may be employed.

The cams described may be replaced by other types of cams and cam tracks. For example, the lengthwise motion of the sliding or moving bars may be obtained by means of a pin or roller attached to each bar and travelling in a groove of proper design cut in the periphery of a cylindrical cam. The radial movement may also be obtained by the proper shape of the inner bottom face of the groove.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A cantilever reel supported at one end only, comprising: a panel plate; a supporting stationary shaft fixedly mounted, adjacent one end v thereof, by the plate and extending through said plate; a stationary cam disc attached to the shaft adjacent the other end of the latter, said disc providing a first cam surface; stationary means mounted by said panel plate providing a second and a third cam surface, the third cam surface being an annular surface transverse to the axis of the shaft; a rotating driven sleeve mounted about said shaft and extending through said panel; a first set of spaced longitudinally extendlng bars fixed in position on and mounted upon and rotating with said sleeve, a second set of spaced, longitudinally extending individually movable bars interdigitating with the first set, the latter bars each resting adjacent one end upon the first cam surface and adjacent the other end upon the second cam surface, an end of each bar being adjacent the third cam surface, the said second set of bars being thereby mounted for individual movement longitudinally to the axis of rotation of the first set by the action of the third cam surface and for individual movement radially toward and away from the said axis by the action of the first and second cam surfaces, said bars of the second set having por- 5 tions which are projected radially at least once during each revolution of the first set of bars, outside the latter, and in which the first set of bars is supported adjacent one end only by a plate secured for rotation with the sleeve, spring means for pressing each of the second set of bars against all three cam surfaces, comprising a spring for each bar of the second set attached at one end to a bar of said set and at the other end to said sleeve.

2. A cantilever reel supported at one end only, comprising: a panel plate; a supporting stationary shaft fixedly mounted, adjacent one end thereof, by the plate, and extending through said plate; a stationary cam disc attached to the shaft adjacent the other and inner end of the latter; said disc providing a cam surface; stationary means mounted upon said panel plate providing a second and a third cam surface, the third cam surface being an annular surface transverse to the axis of the shaft; a rotating driven sleeve mounted about said shaft and extending through said panel; a thread supporting drum comprising a first set of spaced longitudinally extending bars fixed in position on and mounted upon and rotating with said sleeve; 5, second set of spaced, 1ongitudinally extending individually movable bars interdigitating with the first set; the set of movable bars being carried by and rotating with said drum, the rotary movement of said second set so being actuated solely by the rotating of the drum;

the movable bars each resting, adjacent one end, upon the first cam surface and adjacent the other end upon the second cam surface, an end of each bar being adjacent the third cam surface; means attached to the sleeve to urge the movable bars against all three cam surfaces; the second set of bars being thereby mounted for individual movement longitudinally to the axis of rotation of the first set by the action of the third cam surface and for individual movement radially toward and away from the said axis by the action of the first and second cam surfaces; said bars of the second set having portions which are projected radially at least once during each revolution of the first set of bars, outside the latter; at any one instant some of the movable bars being retracted below the surface of the drum and others being projected beyond the outer surface of the drum.

RUDOLPH HEIlBACH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,175,218 Samerdyke Oct. 10, 1939 2,255,017 .Torrence et a1 Sept. 2', 1941 2,396,297 Stanley Mar. 12, 1946 2,435,430 Ewing Feb. 3, 1948 

